An Age of Wonders: Prodigies, Politics and Providence in England 1657-1727 - Softcover

William E. Burns

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0719081270 ISBN 13: 9780719081279

Publisher: Manchester University Press, 2009

Synopsis

Monstrous births, rains of blood, apparitions of battles in the sky - people in early modern England found all of these events to carry important religious and political meanings. In 'An Age of Wonders', available in paperback for the first time, William E. Burns explores the process by which these events became religiously and politically insignificant in the Restoration period. The story involves the establishment of early modern science, the shift from 'enthusiastic' to reasonable religion, and the fierce political combat between the Whigs and the Tories. This historical study is based on close readings of a variety of primary sources, both print and manuscript. Burns claims that prodigies lost their religious meaning and became subjects of scientific enquiry as a result of political struggles, first by the supporters of the restored monarchy and the Church of England against Protestant dissenters, and then by the Whig defenders of the Revolution of 1688 against the Tories and the Jacobites. By integrating religious and political history with the history of science, 'An Age of Wonders' will be of great use to those working in the field of early modern history.

About this title

Product Description:

Monstrous births, rains of blood, apparitions of battles in the sky - people in early modern England found all of these events to carry important religious and political meanings. This book explores the process by which these events became religiously and politically insignificant in the Restoration period.

Review:

'This is a clearly written and well focussed book which makes an interesting contribution to our understanding of the political, intellectual and religious culture of Restoration and early Georgian England'. --Alex Walsham, University of Exeter

About this edition

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0719081270
• ISBN 13: 9780719081279
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240